Tag: David Walker

Comics3 Comments

John Shaft vs. Sam Wilson: Rewriting the History of Black Comic Characters

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

I’m about to stir it up. I’m about to talk some shit, ruffle some feathers, and remind those that know me, how I break it down. Some of you will get pissed off, and that’s okay. Righteous indignation is a wonderful American tradition. Run with it, my friends.

As many of you know, in the world of comics, Sam Wilson, better known as Falcon, has assumed the mantle of Captain America over at Marvel/Disney. This has been a much-hyped story, that I have weighed in on (read HERE and HERE), but couldn’t go into as deep as I wanted because of a secret that I needed to keep. That secret was made public last week, when Dynamite Entertainment announced that I was writing their upcoming Shaft comic book.

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Art, Comics3 Comments

That Denys Cowan & Bill Sienkiewicz Shaft Cover

Keith Chow

Yesterday, we brought you the exciting news that the top secret project David Walker has been cryptically tweeting about was none other than Dynamite Comics’ upcoming Shaft comic! To learn more about how this collaboration came about — and what you can expect from the series — check out Albert Ching’s exclusive interview with David at Comic Book Resources.

Speaking of collaborations, one of the things I’m most excited about are all the variant covers for issue #1 — especially the one by living legends Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz! After the jump, you can see the cover everyone has been raving about (featuring beautiful colors by Ivan Nunes). We’ve also attached — with Denys’ permission — a version with just the original pencils and inks as well!

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Comics10 Comments

Our Own David Walker is Writing Dynamite’s Shaft

The Nerds of Color

Big news from Dynamite Comics this morning! A few months ago, Dynamite — the independent comics company that specializes in comic adaptations of licensed media — announced they were doing a run based on the classic character Shaft, made famous by the 70s film franchise starring Richard Roundtree. In addition to all new comics and graphic novels, though, Dynamite also intends to republish the original novels by Ernest Tidyma.

This morning, the company announced the creative team on the books would be none other than fellow Nerd of Color David Walker with interiors by Brazilian artist Bilquis Evely! After the jump, check out the official announcement from Dynamite and a peek at the alternate covers for issue #1 (including a collabo between Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz that should probably be framed and hanging on your wall).

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Origins2 Comments

Origins of The N.O.C.: Year One

The Nerds of Color

Believe it or not, today marks the one year anniversary of the official launch of this blog. (While we reposted Bao’s article that inspired the website on August 1, we didn’t officially kick off the site until this post on the 12th.)

A year later, we’ve grown exponentially across our various social media platforms thanks to all of you loyal readers, followers, subscribers, and likers. To mark the occasion, we’re going to look back at the secret origins of all of the NOCs who contributed this past year. Fortunately, our roster continues to grow, so you can keep track of future origin stories by following this tag.

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Comics, Conventions3 Comments

The Invisible World of Black Comic Creators

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

Okay, so I got back from the San Diego Comic-Con a few days ago, and I really wanted to share some of my experiences and thoughts, before they are lost in the jumbled mess of my mind. Let me start by saying that I’ve been going to SDCC since 1998, and in that time there are only two years I’ve missed. Some years have been great, and other have been not-so-great. This year was one of the best years for Comic-Con — especially considering where my life is at on a personal level (which I won’t bore you with). Professional things are going well, but because of a series of non-disclosure agreements, I can’t talk about what I’m working on (nor could I talk about these various projects at the con itself).

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Animation, Marvel, Television3 Comments

Black Captain America vs. Black Jesus

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

Once again, I find myself on the slippery slope of pop culture commentary, in a position that requires full disclosure. Recently, I wrote a piece about Marvel’s announcement that Sam Wilson, a black man better known as Falcon, will be taking over as the new Captain America. I also admitted that I know writer Rick Remender, who will be chronicling the adventures of Black Captain America. With that in mind, it is only fair that I admit to knowing Aaron McGruder, creator of The Boondocks, as well as a new television series that is about to debut, Black Jesus.

My relationship with McGruder is far more complex than my relationship with Remender, to the extent that I’d say at one point Aaron and I could’ve been considered friends. We haven’t spoken in a long time, and based on his work as of late, I’d say that we exist in differing ideological universes. If that’s not the case, he is more than welcome to get in touch with me, as I’m sure he still has my number, and we can talk about how his work often makes me want to vomit in the corner.

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Comics, Marvel22 Comments

Marvel & Diversity: Don’t Piss on My Head and Tell Me It’s Raining

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

Let me start by saying a few things. First, I’m trying to write less about companies like Marvel (Disney) and DC (Warner Brothers), because I’m not paid to do publicity for them. Second, although we are not close friends, I have known Rick Remender for more than a decade, and where I’m about to go is not meant to be an attack on him personally. Finally, it is no secret that if Marvel (or DC for that matter) called me tomorrow, I’d jump at the opportunity to work for them — which might make some of you view me as a hypocrite, and that’s fine with me.

All of that said, my undying childhood desire to write comics, my acquaintance with anyone who works for Marvel or DC, and my belief that both of these corporate-owned companies don’t need another bit of free publicity, does not change what I need to get off my chest.

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Fantasy, Literature, Sci Fi4 Comments

We Need More Than More Diversity

David F. Walker

Originally posted at Super Justice Force

The recent death of celebrated author Walter Dean Myers has seemingly left a void in that corner of Young Adult literature that is aware of representation and diversity, and produces works of fiction populated with a rainbow coalition of characters. It seems like every week I’m reading something about the lack of diversity and representation in YA (as well as comics and films and whatever else you care to throw into the mix), much like this piece. And now that Myers is gone, he can join the list of authors frequently cited as those that did the most for those who are represented the least.

Unfortunately, while he was alive, a significant amount of what was written about the lack of diversity in YA failed to mention Myers and his work — which speaks to a problem almost as bad as the lack of diversity itself. That problem, of course, is the lack of dialog about those books and those writers who do put in the work to ensure diversity and representation.

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Movies5 Comments

Sidekickism Part 2: What a Difference Race Makes

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

After the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I wrote a piece about the supporting character Falcon and something called “sidekickism.” Race and racial ideology was at the heart and soul of what I wrote about, which of course rubbed some people the wrong way. Fortunately, I’ve never cared about how my observations about race and racism may or may not upset people who wander through life with blinders on, convincing themselves that it’s all good when it comes to issues of race.

And though it was never my intention to revisit sidekickism, there is more to be said. Because some people still don’t fully comprehend the impact of racial ideology, and how it affects everything — including things as innocuous as pop culture — I wanted to take a look at sidekickism through a very narrow and specific lens. This leads us to today’s topic: Felix Leiter, sidekick to James Bond.

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Comics11 Comments

Does Anyone REALLY Care About Diversity in Comics?

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz MoFo

I’m starting to feel like I’m going crazy — as if there is something seriously wrong with me — when the sad truth of the matter is that it is not me at all. It is you. And by “you” I don’t necessarily mean you, the person reading this, but I do mean someone other than myself — the crazy person running around pointing out the truth that You (though not necessarily you) don’t want to face. And the truth that I’m talking about is the simple fact that for all the complaining about the lack of diversity in comics — specifically as it relates to black creators — You don’t really want diversity. Instead, You want to sit around, writing blog posts and articles and leaving comments here and there about how few black creators are working in comics, and how You are so righteously indignant to the plight of struggling black creators who aren’t being given a chance to work for major corporations like Marvel (owned by Disney) and DC (owned by Warner Brothers).

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Comics7 Comments

Where the New Black Comics Writers Are

Keith Chow

The other day, one of our favorite websites, Bleeding Cool, posted a column by Devon Sanders bemoaning the lack of black writers in comics — or more precisely at the Big Two (i.e., DC and Marvel) as well as the mid-major publishers like Dark Horse and Boom. Since its publication, the article has been making its way around the comics blogosphere and message boards sparking some much-needed conversation about the lack of diversity in comics.

The question posed is focused primarily on the lack of black comics writers, and not artists such as Shawn Martinbrough, Jamal Igle, Kyle Baker, or Rob Guillory whose mainstream comics work have all developed quite a following. In the article, Sanders says:

This is the writer’s name, the one you see above everyone else’s and when you count black writers actively working for Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, etc. it comes down to less than the number of digits on Nightcrawler’s hand.

Now while the thesis of the article is the lack of black writers at the big publishers, the column’s title posited the question “Where are the New Black Comics Writers?” The answer to that particular question would be to look beyond the Big Two. Just ask our own Brandon Easton who recently received an Eisner nom for his work on the spectacular Watson and Holmes.

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Comics, Marvel1 Comment

NOC Reviews Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #1

David F. Walker

Originally posted at SuperJusticeForce.com

My feelings on Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man are not exactly a secret (you can read all about it here). This has been one of my favorite comics for years, and ever since the introduction of Miles Morales in the aftermath of Peter Parker’s death, this has become the only comic I read on a regular basis.

The Ultimate Universe adventures of Spider-Man — which take places in a different universe from the original incarnation of the character — have been relaunched under the new title of Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man. The first issue of this new series debuted this week, and it is essentially the same book as before — which is just fine with me. Brian Michael Bendis is still the writer, and David Marquez is still killing it on the art.

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Comics, Gone Too Soon2 Comments

Remembering Dwayne McDuffie, Part 2

David F. Walker

Three years ago today, we lost the beloved Dwayne McDuffie. In person, Dwayne towered well over six feet tall, which lent itself to a larger-than-life image that was really the opposite of how he carried himself. You could always spot Dwayne in a crowd, but you couldn’t necessarily hear him over the crowd. With his intimidating size, Dwayne knew how to not be intimidating in his demeanor. His work spoke much louder than he did. That’s part of the reason so many people miss him, and part of the reason people like me, who were only casually acquainted with him feel the loss so greatly.

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Comics, Gone Too Soon1 Comment

Today is Dwayne McDuffie’s Birthday

David F. Walker

[Ed. note: David originally wrote this for BadAzz Mofo on Monday, and we’re running it today in honor of what would have been Dwayne’s 52nd birthday. Tomorrow is also the third anniversary of his passing. My own memory of meeting Dwayne is here. The image above is by graphic designer Ed Williams. —KC]

dwaynemcduffieThings were different when I was a kid growing up. For the most part, you didn’t know what comic book creators looked like. Sure, everyone knew what Stan Lee looked like, but that was about it. The few comic creators I had contact with back in my youth were all white, and for some reason, it just sort of stuck in my head that all comic creators had to be white. This was, of course, reinforced by the vast majority of comics that were being published, which only had a relatively small number of black characters.

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Movies11 Comments

Winston Zeddemore and the Importance of Ghostbusters

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadAzz Mofo

It’s Black History Month. That means it is the one month out of year that everyone is posting the sort stuff I post all the time. And that means that I need to step up my game. For my first (and possibly only) entry for Black History Month 2014, I’ve decided to write about one of the most important African American characters in the history of cinema — Winston Zeddemore. Before any of you roll your eyes and stop reading, hang with me for just a little longer while I explain why a character from the movie Ghostbusters is so important.

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Comics1 Comment

The Army of Dr. Moreau is Available Digitally

The Nerds of Color

Last week, David Walker threw down the gauntlet for folks who say there isn’t enough diversity in comics but may not buy — or even know about — comics and graphic novels by writers and artists of color. If you feel like supporting creators of color and publishers who aren’t “the big two,” you can start with a digital-only book by Walker himself. The third issue of David Walker’s digital mini-series The Army of Dr. Moreau comes out today exclusively on ComiXology.

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Misc

The Adventures of Links

Keith Chow

Since The Nerds of Color is not the only awesome thing on the internet, here are five links you should click on.

Seems that Jenn isn’t the only person who identifies with the Yellow Ranger. Over on The Toast, cartoonist Shing Yin Khor finds inspiration from everyone’s favorite Asian American Mighty Morphin’ Power Ranger to deal with a lot of unfortunate questions and comments from a lot of unfortunate people.

skhor_ranger_7

“Smash the patriarchy,” indeed!

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Comics21 Comments

The Lack of Diversity in Comics: What’re You Doing About It?

David F. Walker

ImageIt seems like every day I read something, somewhere, about the lack of diversity in comics (not to mention various other pop culture mediums). Sometimes these pieces focus on gender, other times on people of color, and sometimes both. At the recent Image Expo, sixteen comic creators took the stage, with only two being women, and none being of color, and in the aftermath we are once again having this conversation. (Read about it here on Bleeding Cool.) To be absolutely clear, this lack of representation in the creative forces that produce comics is problematic. There needs to be greater diversity on many levels when it comes to comics, both on the creative side, and within the stories that are being produced. But that is only one problem, and not the problem I want to address.

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Gone Too Soon, Martial Arts, Movies3 Comments

Run Run Shaw and the Impact of Kung Fu Movies on Black America

David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadaAzz Mofo

Earlier this week, Run Run Shaw, co-founder of the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios, died at the age of 106. Shaw Brothers was responsible for some of the greatest kung fu movies of all time, and introduced the genre to American audiences in the 1970s with their film Five Fingers of Death. In my new book, Becoming Black: Personal Ramblings on Racial Identification, Racism, and Popular Culture, I discuss the impact of Shaw Brothers, Bruce Lee, and kung fu movies in the essay “To Be Chinese, Or Not To Be.”

Here is an excerpt:

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Literature, Origins1 Comment

I Needed a Hero

David F. Walker

Originally posted at SuperJusticeForce.com

True story: several of the rejections that I got for Super Justice Force made mention of how difficult it was for certain editors to relate to my hero, Darius Logan. None of them came out and said they couldn’t relate to him because he was black, just that they couldn’t relate to him. Fair enough, I suppose. But I can’t help but wonder exactly what it was about Darius that they couldn’t relate to. Was it the fact that he was an orphan, like Harry Potter, Spider-Man, Tarzan, Superman, or Batman? Was it that he found himself stuck in a violent world not of his own making, like Katniss Everdeen? Was it that he was a tortured soul struggling to survive like… well… like many characters in some of the most popular stories of all time?

The fact of the matter is that aside from the recurring “teenage boys don’t read” and “this isn’t girl-friendly enough” responses that accompanied every single rejection of Super Justice Force, one of the most common complaints editors had was that they couldn’t relate to Darius. Honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around what that means, and unless it meant that my book was so poorly written that Darius was an unlikeable jerk, then it most likely meant that some people couldn’t get behind the fact that he was black.

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